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LAST UPDATE | 23 Jun 2021
TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has said the government cannot make the “final call” on whether there can be further easing of restrictions on 5 July until next week, when it receives the most up to date advice from public health experts.
Earlier today, Health Minister Donnelly has said it’s “too early to say” if a further reopening of society will be delayed by a few weeks due to the Delta variant of Covid-19.
There has been a focus this week on how the Delta variant could impact the reopening of indoor hospitality on 5 July.
The variant now accounts for 20% of all of last week’s case numbers.
NPHET is due to advise the Government next Thursday on the epidemiological situation in Ireland, ahead of the next phase of reopening due on Monday 5 July.
Speaking to reporters today, Varadkar said it government will make decision when it has the most recent data available, stating that “as things stand” the plan is still to ease restrictions on 5 July.
However, he said, like all the other announcements, the “final call” can only be made a few days beforehand.
The government always gives an indicative date, he said, “but that is never confirmed until the week before”, he added. Varadkar said such a decision can only be made when the government has the latest epidemiological data and the latest advice from NPHET.
A number of key metrics will be considered when making a decision, such as the number of cases, which he said is falling. He said it is also encouraging that hospital numbers are falling, and the vaccination programme is “going very well”.
He said variants of concern will also have to be considered, stating that the “dark cloud” is the Delta variant.
The government is looking to data in the UK, which is far more advanced in its reopening than Ireland, and has a higher rate of the Delta variant, said Varadkar.
He said it is concerning that there has been between a 30%-40% increase in cases and hospitalisations there over the last week, but also highlighted that this is “from a very low base”.
When asked about mixed messaging from the government about the reopening in July, Varadkar said: “I am sorry if it is confusing.”
“I appreciate how annoying and frustrating this is for people,” he added.
He acknowledged that businesses needed clarity around the reopening date, as well as couples who have booked their big day in the expectation they would be allowed to have 50 guests instead of 25.
“I totally get how horrible the uncertainty is,” he said, saying that we are living in an uncertain environment right now.
He reiterated that the government would not be able to “press go” on the reopening on 5 July until after next week’s Cabinet meeting, but said the one thing he cannot give right now is certainty.
“The decision is not made,” he said.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Donnelly said the concern he has is that “we are now surrounded by the Delta variant”.
“We know it’s significantly more contagious. We believe that it is a lot more severe, up to two and a half times more likely to hospitalise somebody,” Donnelly said.
“And we know that at least for the first dose, it is less susceptible to vaccines. So this is a very, very serious variant,” he said.
When asked whether Government may delay the further reopening of society by a couple of weeks, Donnelly said “at this point, it’s too early to say”.
The Health Minister said the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will next week provide an analysis to the situation and there will also be an economic analysis done.
“Cabinet will look at that, and then make decisions in the best interests of a sustainable reopening,” he said.
It’s understood the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has been speaking with Donnelly and indicated a delay in reopening indoor hospitality could prevent hospitalisations.
The health minister’s comments come as Taoiseach Micheál Martin indicated to The Irish Independent that he “wouldn’t be afraid” to delay the 5 July reopening if NPHET advised as such next week.
A number of government sources said they were surprised at the Taoiseach’s comments as that was not the mood music at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, where the plan for reopening seemed to be on track.
However, it is understood that following yesterday’s meeting, indications from public health experts was that a cautious recommendation was set to be given to the government next week when they meet ahead of Thursday’s Cabinet meeting.
“The writing seems to be on the wall from NPHET’s point of view”, said one senior source who added that the CMO told the health minister that he is worried about the variant, and that a few weeks deferral could prevent a rise in hospitalisations and give more time to get people vaccinated.
They added that that there was absolutely nothing definitive yet on delaying the reopening on 5 July.
Sources have said that such a decision would not be an easy one for government, stating that younger people in particular would be very angry at any delay.
Other government sources have indicated that they were rather shocked at the Taoiseach’s words this morning, stating that Ireland will be seen as outliers in Europe due to other regions such Northern Ireland, Scotland and Britain, as well as other EU nations, all having the dominant Delta variant, and who are able to carry on with indoor dining, while also accommodating thousands of people at large events such as football matches.
They said the Taoiseach’s comments appeared to be teeing up NPHET to pull the break and held the view that Martin is being “overly cautious”.
“He’s certainly made it a lot easier for NPHET to advise to delay,” said another source.
They highlighted that NPHET recommended the 5 July date, and questioned if a delay of 2-3 weeks would only be for that time period, or would the health experts extend it further.
They said government would be reassured if the UK doesn’t end up in serious trouble in a few weeks, stating if they can manage the variant, and also have indoor dining and half full stadiums, we should be able to as well.
Travel
Meanwhile, Ireland has signed up to the Digital Green Certificate system and the country aims to adhere to European regulations around travel in the coming weeks.
Officials are said to be “working around the clock” to get the EU system up and running in time for 19 July, the date on which the government has said it hopes non-essential international travel can return.
The certificate will facilitate free movement of EU citizens during the pandemic in the European Union and European Economic Area countries such as Norway and Iceland.
A comprehensive campaign on the new EU Digital Certificate is expected to be launched by the government ahead of 19 July.
It is expected to outline that those who have been vaccinated, those who have received a negative PCR test result (or antigen test for some countries), or those who have had Covid-19 in the past nine months will be able to travel abroad.
However, there are now concerns that public health experts will warn against resuming travel in July, with sources stating that they expect more mixed messaging on the issue.
Addressing the issue of reopening travel, Donnelly said this morning that it current government policy is that the EU Digital Certificate will include the three criteria noted above.
However, he added that “as with everything with Covid, were we to get strong public health advice to the contrary”, it could be reexamined.
Donnelly said the conversation about further narrowing the criteria for travel “isn’t currently happening”.
“What we know is the Chief Medical Officer has raised his concerns from a public health perspective but government policy is all three criteria. If we get strong public health advice, obviously we will take that under consideration,” he said.
With reporting by Christina Finn
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This up and down with people’s lives and mental health is enough. I abided by every single rule all the way through but even now I’m seeing little point anymore as the numbers are very low and people are vaccinated.
@Joey: Then carry on that way. Nobody is listening to them anymore. Implementing another lockdown will be next to impossible next time round. The people of Ireland seem to be moving on from this pandemic.
@David Corrigan: it’s not like we can just ignore them. I’ve booked to visit parents abroad who I haven’t seen in two years in august and if they don’t lift the ban on foreign travel and I go anyway that’s a fine of several grand that I can’t afford.
@Bananaquit: like anyone who’s gone abroad before this magical date of July 19th, get a “valid” medical reason for travel. Book an aul chiropractor wherever you’re supposed to go and not only will you see you parents but you’re back will be in great shape too.
@Andrew English: Clever Dick
@Joey: looking forward to the day this fella ain’t welcome in any working class area pub in this country, a lot of his colleagues will also find themselves in a similar situation
@Jake Kelly: fly from the north. Use that route like those avoiding the restrictions coming into the country.
@Dangling Damo: meant that for bananaquit
@Joey: do i detect a modicum of dissent amongst the rank and file, surely not
@Bananaquit: Fly from Belfast if you can.
Varadkar wants to make sure everyone gets the Delta Blues for the next two weeks at least.
@Jake Kelly: No go areas? How very LCC of you.
@Jake Kelly: At this rate there will be none left for them to visit .
Indoor dining is open everywhere else in Europe, where the delta variant is spreading or dominant and they are getting along just fine. Why, oh why do we have to listen to this minister, who is Holohan’s puppet, spread more panic among the public, let alone business that are on the brink. This is the first of many kites that will be flown between now and next Thursday when NPHET release their royal decree to the plebs of Éireann.
@michael: Michael me aul flower, calm down, take a deep breath. Restaurants will reopen July 5th. It is further restrictions being lifted AFTER this date which is being discussed.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Did you read the article, me auld flower?
Restaurants are under review also;
“ There has been a focus this week on how the Delta variant could impact the reopening of indoor hospitality on 5 July. ”
@JedBartlett: I did indeedy Jed, indoor dining will reopen and after that there’ll be a delay, that’s my feeling on it, you know me Jed always the optimist.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: no its not, they’re discussing restaurants and pubs in this article which is what Stephen Donnelly was talking about. Don’t know what article you think you read. Defending the indefensible again.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: 2021 or 2022 ?
Andddddd we are off to the mixed messaging and kite flying races for the next two weeks. In the line up we have the clueless health minister who makes father dougal look look like Albert Einstein, then we have leo the ego leak and his views, followed by MM who is always used to bringing up the rear to leaky leo…but out in front as always is Tony on-board NPHET with his fingers ready to tweet and concerns ready for the media. It’s going to be a confusing photo finish in the Irish kite flying Derby between now and the day or two before we are meant to reopen indoor dining.
@Michael Healy: Are you the bookie too? If so, I want €5 win on Tony to delay indoor dining.
@Sean O’Toole: At odds of 1/4, it’s hardly worth yer while, Mick.
@Michael Healy: yes, funnily enough, they have to wait and see what happens with this variant and follow the science before making a decision
Just take a look at how Denmark are opening up with mass free testing which has become the norm ….us we are so precautions that we are afraid of our own shadow typical indecision
Here we go
Our case numbers, hospital numbers and ICU numbers are all dropping steadily even as we open up things. Why the hell would we delay the reopening when there is no indication that these will increase.
@Alan Kenny: Dis you read the article? The new variant is about 50% more transmissable. We have enough vulnerable people not vaccinated that high enough cases could cause a spike in hospitalisations. Delaying a few weeks allows the vaccination numbers to increase. Even the UK with their much higher vaccination totals are seeing increases in hospital numbers. I don’t think the Government should get stick for not anticipating all the new variants.
@Thomas O’ Donnell: Why are cases and hospital numbers in Germany, France, Italy and Spain all decreasing then? Looking at one country in isolation does not give an accurate representation of what is happening. Its a virus, it is going to mutate into new variants.
@Alan Kenny:
It kind of does since the UK is the only European country where the delta variant is completely dominant and for a while, so its kind of pointless looking towards mainland Europe when its obvious we’ll be in a similar position to the UK very soon. They went from 2000 daily cases recently to over 16000 today.
@Alan Kenny: why are numbers falling? It’s summer. When do they likely increase? Indoors in Autumn and winter months. I thought everyone knew this?
Here we go again, always in the lead-up to some kind of restriction being eased. What a shower of Gowls we have to put up with.
Again misinformation from the journal “ those who have received a negative PCR test result, or those who have had Covid-19 in the past nine months will be able to travel abroad.”
Antigen testing is accepted equality as part of the Digital COVID cert.
Only Ireland has tweaked it, against the EU legislation, where they will require an exprès PCR test for the ones holding an Cert with Antigen test.
@Sigfrid Blanc: they’ve another article today saying how themselves and RTE are places on covid to avoid misinformation. Its actually hilarious.
@Sigfrid Blanc: What are you on about? Ireland didn’t tweak anything against EU legalisation. The EU left it up to member states to decide what test was accepted. The legalisation provides for only accepting NAAT tests and not antigen. I dont agree with the decision not to use or accept antigen tests in this country, but let’s not spread false information. Ireland has not tweaked legalisation and is following it to the letter. Its a member state decision, even if its a bad one.
“we are now surrounded by the Delta variant”.
I am sure we are… why dont you scare people. Its a virus that developed into a different virus… like any other virus out there.. no need for that.
@Janine Dolan: got to agree what a statement to make…does he not have a well paid civil servant to advise him of what to say or is he like a deer in headlights when facing the media and just spill a the beans on what holohans plans are…I would hate to see how things would be if no vaccines were available…Hopefully common sense will prevail and the lifting of restrictions goes ahead on the 5th July
Seeing full stadiums across Europe makes us look ridiculous. When you have countries all over the world that are using rapid antigen testing to catch infectious people and here we are sill stalling on it. We have govt dodging questions about conflicts of interest over NPHET members making money with PCR testing yet they refuse to line up with the rest of Europe. When they are asked they say they need to study and verify rapid testing. What’s to study. Its been used all over the world to safe effect allowing people to return to normality.
The important question the minister should be asked is how many ICU beds have we increased from April last year because the HSE were given millions of euros to add 100+ beds. Yet there is silence and avoidance on this question. The govt and the HSE are treating the people like small children, it now seems that those small kids are gonna vote SF in the next election because of the incompetence they have shown.
@Diarmuid O’Braonáin:
What are you on about? People are going to vote SF because the government are listening to NPHET while SF own policy is to listen NPHET.
Not that we can do much about it at the end of the day, but I will lose the will to live if they delay the reopening even further. It is acceptable only if the hospital cases go way up, as of last night it was 13 in ICU and 39 in hospital as a result of Covid. These are very low numbers, and do not in any shape or form warrant a delay of the reopening of hospitality.
@The Firestarter: So do you wait until hospital numbers go way up or try to make projections to anticipate it?
@Thomas O’ Donnell: Maybe you consider all issues, like a government should, including the fact that impoverishing people isn’t too good for health in the long term either. Although that ship sailed a while ago.
@michael:
Or maybe be sensible and look at our near neighbour where the delta variant is dominant , who are well ahead of us in vaccination rates and where cases have gone to 2000 to 16000 a day in a matter of a few weeks, see if those increase in cases are leading to hospitalisations and make an informed decision.
The journal kite flying for their mates. Who’d of known
The good old Delta scariant.
Let’s go forward not backwards time to push on now
They obviously don’t have a clue how a business runs , fresh food has been ordered, machines have been stocked and checked, staff have been organised at great difficulty.
Holidays have been booked pending reopening of restaurants and other entertainment.
Leo will come to the rescue …. He will break the good news story that Government will be lifting the restrictions as planned…. all the ministers & MM spout the bad news and Leo delivers the good stuff….this how the game works!
@Max Power: Sure isn’t that the way FG opperate….better public relations profile.
Labour learned the hard way becoming the fall guy for LPT and water charges.
Soon it’s going to be FF’s turn over making a balls of managing this pandemic.
It’s all about getting elected and little about improving our country…..jump into bed with FG and your gonna get f”"ked.
It’s about time NPHET got off the stage and are replaced by people who actually know what they’re doing
@John O: Like who? Serious question, if doctors and scientists cant be trusted who do you turn to?
Let me answer where a politician will not. This never ends until such a time as you cannot feed your family. Then and only then will people put an end to this modern WEF drug induced Holodomor.
Not a thought for those who have booked staycations. Are we supposed to eat McDonald s in the car looking out at the rain. I know if they needlessly put the hammer on reopening I will wash my hands of home tourism forever.
@Sean Salmon: You’re blaming them for the weather aswell?
It’s time that we said ‘no’ to this nonsense.
@Jason Shortt: No its way past time. Especially if the back down on lifting restrictions July 5th
Still living in the 1800s a bunch of clueless Pr..ks
Quit the scaremongering, cases still low and even if they were all the delta variant it wouldn’t matter as long as no case spiked happened. Keep up the vacination and stuck to the reopening plan, the country can’t take another overly strict lockdown and we don’t need one.
60000 people attending the European championships semi finals and finals at Wembley all packed in together, 180000 people attending 3 football matches and here we are with about 10 people in icu and delaying reopening pubs and restaurants with a handful of people in each, lol, I hope all the loyal nphet and government fanboys can finally see yeve been had, lol.
I’ve booked to visit my parents who live abroad in August. I haven’t seen them in two years. I’ve a small child and they’ve missed a lot of her life. It will be devastating for us if the government change their mind and decide not to lift the ban on foreign travel.
Anytime I mention how well other countries are doing the same lockdown lovers on here reply immediately throwing deaths from India, Brazil and timbuck 2 as a reply.
Here’s prime time surprisingly showing how NPHET and the government have failed us completely, time for mass disobedience
https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2021/0622/1230778-denmark-ireland-euro-2020-covid-reopening/
They can have the Delta and any other virus the like im just about fed up with these muppets controlling us
I think they’ll lock us down again.
Lol, got ye again, next 2 weeks vital, stick with us, continue to follow the guidelines, not many clouds left, better days ahead
@Hugo Bugo: ally, u were muted years ago, lol
Jesus mary and joseph, merciful jesus, if you want to talk about fear mongering go to any comment section on any covid19 article. You’d swear it was the end of times, the way people are going on.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: You haven’t read the article obviously. You claim restaurants will still open on the 5th but it isn’t guaranteed.
“ There has been a focus this week on how the Delta variant could impact the reopening of indoor hospitality on 5 July. ”
@JedBartlett: I read the article Jed. It makes sense to me, of course they will discuss the Delta variant, I would expect them too. They’ll still reopen thr restaurants having weighed everything up and will delay FURTHER reopening. People on here are just out for blood is my opinion
@Ally Mc Culladgh: jeez, have you actually any idea on what’s happening to the country? Let me guess, you have your family, maybe your own place with a back garden so you can pottter around flowering and sht during the summer waiting for this to blow over. While theres hundreds fretting about their business, thousands worrying about their jobs. Weve had 18 months of lets blindly follow the nept avengers and their cheerleading crew.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Indoor dining is the further reopening they’re talking about delaying.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: The only fear mongering is coming from NPHET and the media.
With most of the older folk and vulnerable now fully vaccinated why would we be bothered about ‘cases’?
Why would anyone have bothered getting vaccinated if it doesn’t free you to live your life?
Time to move on and remove the medics from running the country…
Government is full of muppets,
Awh here just throw us in lockdown again they’re only dying to do it. Best place we’ve been in, in nearly a year yet we’re still letting whats happening in other countries dictate how we operate. We are in a much better place than britain with 90% of the people who the delta variant effects the most fully vaccinated. Just because britain are scaling back doesnt mean we have to. But then again these yokes always did have a hard time making decisions themselves.
Oh Dry up Donnelly we are all sick of listening to your incompetence and the incompetence of the whole health care sector. The whole idea of these restrictions and lockdowns was to make sure the hospitals didn’t become overwhelmed there are less than 40 people in hospitals even with all the variants and no ICU beds added over the past 18 months! But seemingly there is an endless pit of money for supports for businesses and social welfare! How much would even 1/2 of this money done to reform the healthcare service since covid?!
Watch now as Holohan miraculously bumps up the delta cases to tie in with his power grabbing agenda.
Delta PLUS just been announced, I would have given odds on a brand new and improved variant but its best to stick with the tried and trusted, but even so delta plus, again my money wouid have been on delta version 2 new and improved or delta 2.0 the return, I must eat some humble pie on this one and say I was wrong :), maybe the pausing of July 5th restrictions is no longer enough now delta plus is lurking, maybe we need to go back into full lockdown
NEPHET sharping the axe again!
That is till the spoofey woofey variant arrives, its highly contagious but has no symptoms, but (Experts) say it could seriously effect the over 90s, but they won’t know for about a year, as it can lay dormant in your ear, if your taller than 6ft, take care folks.
MM “not afraid to delay re-opening of hospitality on 5th July” but doesn’t have the balls to do anything about the cars and camper vans full of UK tourists arriving on the ferries every day.
On one hand Govt appear to want to protect us by restricting our movements and keeping our lives on hold but on the other we welcome tourists from Delta hotspots to travel the length of the country without restriction – Sorry I forgot we we strongly recommend that they self isolate!
Makes perfect sense. Open the restaurants on July 5th. See how we are going. It is the cautious and sensible way to do it. The UK have had to put their further reopening on hold.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Wouldn’t expect anything less from you Ally. You still beaming with pride after Sir Tony collected the freedom of Dublin award?
@Darren Lambe: Wouldn’t expect any less from you either Daz, still seething with hatred for Tony?
@Darren Lambe: You know Daz, I’m in favour of restaurants reopening on July 5th and believe it will happen. Yet you can’t help yourself have a snide remark about Tony. Sad really. That type of hate is not good Daz.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: I hold no hatred for the man. Its time for him to get off the stage though. You and your fellow cheerleaders would be none too happy about that I suspect.
@Darren Lambe: Darren, I made a simple comment about restaurants being reopen on July 5th. That it will happen and you my comment into an opportunity to have a go at Tony.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Where in under God are you getting this idea that the restaurants and indoor dining will resume on the 5th?? I’ve seen you make comment after comment that “it makes perfect sense”, “restaurants will reopen”, “it’s delays AFTER the 5th that they are talking about”. Yet the actual article discusses how NPHET, and the Government will in all liklihood, delay the further reopening that was marked for the 5th of July, which was indoor hospitality. Absolutely NO mention of delays after the 5th of July. They clearly discuss the possibility and ominous delaying of reopening on the 5th. I find your comments bizarre, it just seems you’re plucking them outta thin air and desperately trying to defend Tony Holohan.
Time to stop this.
The feats are due to ineptitude on vaccine rollouts. They’ve had a year to make new systems to respond but have continued to rely on the archaic ones.
If you’re vaccinated, you should be free to do as you please.
A lot of kites flying around this morning, this government really has no backbone at all
Funny that.. there is always a focus on something before more easing of restrictions come into place…
It’s a tough call. The UK recored over 12,000 cases and 27 deaths yesterday and this variant seems to be spreading like wildfire. We share a land border with them. Do we take any precautions or stick our heads under the covers, carry on regardless and hope for the best?
@GrumpyAulFella:
Put in perspective
roughly 1700 people die every day in UK, that means that 1673 died from non covid causes only 1.6% died from a covid related illness.
unless you want to ban death altogether its time to open up and start rebuilding the economy.
@Frank Jasper: agree. I’m all on for opening. At the same time, the last thing we want is another lockdown if this variant gets out of control. It’s a tough call. No doubt they’ll closely track developments in the UK.
@GrumpyAulFella: …It is a tough call Grumpy…and with news now of a “very vicious” “Delta Plus” variant maybe on the way, one that sticks in yer lungs like glue…and you can catch it just by walking behind an infected person. (BBC News)
I think we should stick closely to our public health advisers recommendations….this is NOT over. But I so wish for a pint in a Galway pub once again, here’s hoping all is still well on the 5th.
@Pádraic Ó Braonáin: here’s hoping. Nothing better than sitting in a nice bar with a pint of the black stuff. See ye in O’Connells.
@GrumpyAulFella: Ha ha another lockdown? This not going to happen people won’t allow it.
18 months was enough.
It’s typical of this government, they have been leaking constantly to anyone that wants to listen that indoor dining won’t be happening. Sure leo said at start prepare for out door Dinning this summer…… its June. I reckon they will keep coming up with excuses while rest of Europe and world moves on in the best way possible.
Out Dinning will continue till September and sure by then they will probably do another lockdown. It is completely a joke the way they are great irish people.
Leo says the pandemic is over. https://www.facebook.com/Afroal20/videos/10158069987818045
in other words !!!!
Lets look into this for safety.
https://www.bitchute.com/video/DJ5E0GbMvRwm/
https://www.facebook.com/1348501653/videos/d41d8cd9/10226286505692890/
@Laz Mahon: thanks for providing me with my daily giggle. sound as a pound
Looking very much like its going to be pushed back until 26th July.
Keep closed till sept
Ohhhhhhh how much does these PRI-KS love the control
So with everybody over the age of 40 vaccinated and the 30s this week and they still can’t say when they are getting back to normal, at this stage is taking the piss
I have a family member who because he has had recent serious treatment can’t be vaccinated like so many more of the very vulnerable and opening up indoor hospitality fills me with dread and fear of this Indian variant . Even seconds of exposure to an infected person with this variant has resulted in outbreaks a study has shown even to a person eating outside of the affected premises . How can vulnerable escape that . Most have families as well as an illness and so have risk enough . When I see the outdoor marquees which should have 50% of no sides I don’t see that so even there ventilation is not probably adequate I can’t see inside having ventilation in Adequate levels until all vaccinated . Uk residents not being quarantined in hotels is going to fuel the outbreaks as is .
https://www.ft.com/content/49b922a5-78cd-4d00-9ffd-e1ba26a4f061
Surprise surprise. I have said it all along. We surrendered our healthy and safety (effectively our lives) over to the government whether we realised it or not. Now we act surprised that the lockdowns may be extended. Really?
@Verners Tess: Different link to same article
have your say